A missile seeker and guidance method
AssigneeMbda UK Limited
InventorNigel STANSFIELD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of guiding a missile in flight to a target (FIG. 1), the location of the missile and the range to the target are measured at a plurality of moments during the flight of the missile (step 10). The location of the target is calculated from the measured ranges and the measured missile locations (step 20). A required velocity vector angle is calculated from the calculated location of the target and a guidance law (step 30). A lateral acceleration required to provide the missile with a velocity oriented to the target at the required velocity vector angle is calculated for the missile (step 40). The missile is caused to accelerate with the calculated lateral acceleration, so that the missile to follows a trajectory according to the guidance law (step 50).
Claims17
A method for a seeker, in a missile in flight, to locate a target, the method comprising:
- (a) measuring, at a plurality of moments during the flight of the missile, the location of the missile and the range to the target;
- and
- (b) calculating the location of the target from the measured ranges and the measured missile locations.
A radar seeker configured to locate a target, by:
- (a) measuring, at a plurality of moments during the flight of the missile, the location of the missile and the range to the target;
- and
- (b) calculating the location of the target from the measured ranges and the measured missile locations.
A missile configured to:
- (a) measure, at a plurality of moments during the flight of the missile, the location of the missile and the range to the target;
- (b) calculate the location of the target from the measured ranges and the measured missile locations;
- (c) calculate a required velocity vector angle from the calculated location of the target and a guidance law;
- (d) calculate for the missile a lateral acceleration required to provide the missile with a velocity oriented to intercept the target at the required velocity vector angle;
- and
- (e) supply the calculated lateral acceleration to another part of the missile that is configured to cause the missile to accelerate.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.